Page 43 of Strictly Off Limits

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An hour later,Hannah stirred again. Pulling her pillow over her face, she mumbled through the material, “I’m afraid to ask what time it is now.”

He eyed his alarm clock on the dresser.

“It’s ten-thirty,” he said, waiting for her reaction.

“Okay, okay, no big deal, my shift is at noon. I just need to get home and get showered up.”

“And we need to get your car from the gym,” he said, gently running one hand over her soft, tan skin.

The pillow went flying, and she hurtled herself out of bed, still naked and still spectacularly gorgeous. “I left my car at the boxing gym?”

“Yes. We agreed to take my car back here last night.”

“But if one of my brothers goes to the gym or even drives by, they’ll see it and wonder where I am.”

Nodding, he got out of bed and grabbed his shorts. It annoyed him that her first thought was to worry about her family catching them, as if she couldn’t accept her own choice to be with him. He understood her concern, but he didn’t like it.

“I’m sure none of your brothers will be at the gym first thing on a Saturday morning, and none of them would park out back. The gym owner will notice and suspect you went home with me. But that woman knows everyone’s secrets and is as safe as a steel trap.”

Hannah moved around the bed, picking up different items of her clothes, then stopped and looked around his large master suite. Did she like the plush blue rug over wide plank wood floors and the modern furniture? He couldn’t tell. Her gaze fell to the sitting area with tall wingback velvet upholstered chairs sitting next to a fireplace. It was one of his favorite features.

“Is that a two-way fireplace out to that massive one in the living room?”

“Yes, you’re very observant.”

“So if you had guests, they could see into your room?”

“Technically, but I don’t really have guests unless you count my brother. You’re the first.”

Her eyes whipped over to him and narrowed.

“I don’t need to be told little white lies. I can understand why a hot guy like you wouldn’t spend a lot of alone time in this amazing bachelor pad.”

He moved with speed to stand in front of her and lifted her chin gently until her eyes met his.

“This is my sanctuary, and I prefer privacy. You are the first and only woman to spend the night here. I don’t lie, and I don’t like to bring anyone to my place. Technically, my brother Finn has spent the night a few times, but that was years ago when he was home from a mission.”

“Hmmmm” was all she said.

“Yes, my thoughts exactly. Get dressed, and we can grab breakfast before we get your car.”

She made her way to the door that led to his all-white marble bathroom.

“You’re too rich to be a cop,” she called back before shutting the door.

He laughed. It wasn’t the first time someone told him he shouldn’t be working in law enforcement. His accountant and financial adviser were the most vocal. They said law enforcement was too risky and not a good investment in the one asset he shouldn’t gamble with: his life. But he loved his work, the thrill of the chase, catching the bad guys. Solving a crime was like solving a puzzle, and law enforcement was similar to financial ventures: once you cracked the code, you could make the case or the profit.

He’d grown up always hearing police stories from his uncles and dad, then his brother Rory after he graduated the academy. Conner wanted to follow in the family footsteps, even though he studied finance in school and got lucky on a few early investments. Protecting the innocent and putting away the bad guy had real purpose, tangible daily results. Every bust and arrest saved their community.

It was his passion.

He heard the shower turn on. Would Hannah want him to join her? But he hesitated. If he were in there with her naked again, he’d distract them both, and she would be late to work. He opted to clean up in the guest bathroom and waited for her in the kitchen where he made them each a coffee. He could smell his shampoo on her before he saw her bare feet and felt her arms encircle his waist from behind.

“Feel better?”

“Satiated and rested,” she said with her face pressed into his back.

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